Monthly Archives: December 2008

Cost Cutting is Much Different than Waste Removal

Posted on December 30, 2008 by John Hunter

Cost Cutting is Much Different than Waste Removal by Jim Womack The very last thing to consider is the one thing managers seem to embrace most readily: cost cutting. This means leaving out steps and features that actually create value from the perspective of the customer and removing employees who are actually needed to get the job done right using the current process. The hope, usually wrong, is that the customer won’t notice. This last expedient is the one I … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Lean thinking | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Programmer’s View of the Universe

Posted on December 29, 2008 by John Hunter

A few weeks ago I wrote about integrating information technology and business process management. This post from Steve Yegge is interesting and discusses one reason I find that a good strategy. Programmers, by and large, are good, practical systems thinkers (this is in the management context, thinking of inter-related systems, whatever those systems are – not to be confused with a computer system). A programmer’s view of the Universe, part 1: The fish The first thing you notice as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Management, Respect, Software Development | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Management Blog Carnival: 2008 Overview

Posted on December 24, 2008 by John Hunter

Over the next 2 weeks several management blogs will be posting their contributions to the management improvement annual blog carnival. Posts will highlight some of the best posts on other management blogs in the last year. Lean Six Sigma Academy:   Lean Blog, Gemba Panta Rei, Evolving Excellence, Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog Evolving Excellence:   LSS Academy, Got Boondoggle, Work Matters and Edge Perspectives Lean Blog:   The Lean Thinker, Elegant Solutions, John Shook’s Management and DailyKaizen Curious Cat … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cutting Hours Instead of People

Posted on December 23, 2008 by John Hunter

When financial and economic realities reach the point that labor costs must be cut I believe a good option to consider is cutting hours (and pay) instead of people. Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Creativity, Deming, Innovation, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Managing Passionate Employees

Posted on December 22, 2008 by John Hunter

Passion vs. Productive There are actually few organizations that can support passionate employees – even if they say they want them. That’s because the original industrial revolution was designed to support productivity. Productivity means you produce. That’s how you’re measured. Passion is difficult to quantify … Managers want passionate employees, but don’t always know how to manage them. Passionate employees question things, probe and push. Who’s got the time to deal with that? Productive employees get things done. No questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Management, Psychology, quote, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Management Improvement Carnival #50

Posted on December 20, 2008 by John Hunter

Corey Ladas is hosting the Management Improvement Carnival #50 on the Lean Software Engineering blog, highlights include: Where did middle managers come from? by Jeffrey Krames: A new anecdote from a conversation with Peter Drucker, which leaves the reader wondering…where should middle managers be heading? 7 habits of highly effective program managers by J.D. Meier: Microsoft has a lot of Program Managers. What do the some of the best ones have in common? Exploit the workers! by Pascal Van Cauwenberghe: … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management, Software Development | Tagged , ,

Looting: Bankruptcy for Profit

Posted on December 19, 2008 by John Hunter

Looting: The Economic Underworld of Bankruptcy for Profit by George Akerlof, University of California, Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Paul Romer, Stanford Graduate School of Business; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). George Akerlof was awarded the 2001 Nobel prize for economics. This is the abstract to their 1994 paper: During the 1980s, a number of unusual financial crises occurred. In Chile, for example, the financial sector collapsed, leaving the government with responsibility for extensive foreign debts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Economics, Management, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Creating Customers For Life

Posted on December 18, 2008 by John Hunter

Shopping at Trader Joe’s is odd. The workers actually seem like they like that they have customers. Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Management Articles, Popular, Respect | Tagged ,

Some Firms Cut Costs Without Resorting to Layoffs

Posted on December 17, 2008 by John Hunter

Some Firms Cut Costs Without Resorting to Layoffs Hypertherm Inc. has never laid off a permanent employee in its 40-year history. A 20% downturn in sales in recent months led the closely held maker of metal-cutting equipment to eliminate overtime, cut temporary staff and delay a facility expansion, says Chief Executive Dick Couch. Managers are transferring employees to busy segments from those with less work. The Hanover, N.H., company also may bring some outsourced manufacturing in-house to keep its 1,100 … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Process improvement, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , ,

Management Blog Posts From November 2005

Posted on December 16, 2008 by John Hunter

Photo of John Hunter at Glacier National Park. Management Improvement – Management concepts should evolve and improve over time. We should build upon the good ideas of yesterday and build in new innovations as they are shown to be effective. It is difficult to do so when consultants try to make their “solutions” proprietary methodologies that are sold in that way. Luckily working with the ideas of Deming, Ohno, Drucker, Ackoff, Shingo, Scholtes, Womack, Box, etc.. and building upon them … Continue reading →

Posted in Management | Tagged

Big Failed Three, Meet the Successful Eight

Posted on December 15, 2008 by John Hunter

Big Three, Meet the “Little Eight” The 1,300-acre plant, in which Toyota has invested $5.3 billion, produces a car roughly every minute. Georgetown’s population has doubled. In fields where farmers once grew tobacco and raised cattle, McMansions, apartment complexes, and condominiums have sprouted. A 150,000-square-foot upscale retail center is rising near the Toyota plant, the better to serve its 7,000 employees. … In San Antonio, the Toyota Tundra plant lay idle for three months this fall, though Toyota hasn’t laid … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Manufacturing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

How Private Equity Strangled Mervyns

Posted on December 12, 2008 by John Hunter

I do not like the actions of many in “private equity.” I am a big fan of capitalism. I just object to those that unjustly take from the other stakeholders involved. It is not the specific facts of this case, that I see as important, but the thinking behind these types of actions. Which specific actions are to blame for this bankruptcy is not my point. I detest that financial gimmicks by “private capital” that ruin companies. Those gimmicks that … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , ,

Management Improvement Carnival #49

Posted on December 10, 2008 by John Hunter

The management carnival provides links to some great recent posts. Also see the management Reddit, which is a social media site for those interested in management. Submit your suggestions for future management carnivals. Lean at ThedaCare, LeanBlog Podcast with Dr. John Toussaint, by Mark Graban – “In this podcast Dr. Toussaint looks back at ThedaCare’s accomplishments, reflects on their journey, and shares his advice for other hospitals.” Survive to Make Money or Make Money to Survive? by John Shook – … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged , ,

Google Should Stay True to Their Management Practices

Posted on December 9, 2008 by John Hunter

I believe in Google’s past, present and future. They have shown a great ability to ignore the short term focus that dominates (and kills success) of so many companies today. I am happy to invest in Google for the long term. This current reaction to the economic crisis, is one of many times Google can be seen to be making significant changes to adapt based on market conditions and the results of their experiments and experiences. Google’s management in general … Continue reading →

Posted in Google, Management, quote | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Japan Airlines CEO on CEO Pay

Posted on December 8, 2008 by John Hunter

Nice webbast of CNN clip on Japan Airlines CEO cutting his pay to less than that of the pilots. He really seems to understand the company does not exist for him to plunder (unlike so many CEOs in the USA). Related: Japan Airlines using Toyota Production System Principles – Under Nishimatsu, Japan Airlines Tries to Rise Above Legacy – Respect for Employees at Southwest Airlines – posts on executive pay – Honda executives not overpaid either

Posted in Management, webcast | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Online Management Resources

Posted on December 5, 2008 by John Hunter

Since long before I started this blog I have maintained the Curious Cat Management Improvement web site. In fact, that web site has been online since 1996; the blog started in 2004. I feel the web site has tremendous resources for managers looking to improve the performance of their organization (or course I am a bit biased). The Curious Cat Management Improvement library includes hundreds articles, reports, training guides, blog posts… that I have selected. It is a great resource, … Continue reading →

Posted in curiouscat.com, Management | Tagged , , , , , , , ,